The S.W.E.L.L. (Supremely Wonderful & Exciting Loot Lottery) prize winner for April is Club K&J member Carlo Colosimo! Carlo, who was randomly selected from the list of Club K&J members, wins a limited edition set of 20 Kim & Jason first class stamps. Perhaps paying bills is about to get a whole lot more fun? Congrats, Carlo!

Do YOU wanna have a chance to win next month’s S.W.E.L.L. prize? Become an official Club K&J subscriber today!

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I’ve got a new favorite word.

Unadulterated.

I used it in a post recently and it struck me that “adult” is smack dab in the middle of the word. (Call me slow to catch on.) Of course, I always knew that “adult” was in the word “unadulterated,” but I never took the time to consider the connection between that little fact and the actual definition of the word.

un·a·dul·ter·at·ed (ŭn’ə-dŭl’tə-rā’tĭd)
adj.

1. Not mingled or diluted with extraneous matter; pure.
2. Out-and-out; utter: the unadulterated truth.

And the thesaurus included these synonyms: Free from extraneous elements: absolute, perfect, plain, pure, simple, undiluted, unmixed.

Hmm….children are certainly not “diluted with extraneous matter.” They are not weighed down by silly rules, unimportant to-do list tasks, or the mindless day-to-day minutia that bogs down so many “adults.” They are free to live life abundantly, with a reckless abandon that eschews the regrets of the past and the anxieties of the future in order to embrace the holy present.

Children are pure. They are innocent up until some adult (or the world we adults created) robs them of that innocence by introducing violence, dishonesty, or abuse.

Children are simple. The whiz-bang, wirelessly-operated toy du jour can’t hold a candle to a giant empty cardboard box. Not in a million years. And they’re not really impressed by Dad’s impressive job title and fat salary or Mom’s PhD and impressive credentials. Not in the least. What does it for them? Playing hide and seek, being pushed on the swings, tickle fights, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and bedtime stories starring heroes and princesses. Pretty simple stuff.

It seems to me that life’s problems pop up when you add an “adult” to the situation. The English prefix “un” has two meanings. The first is “not, or opposite of”, and the other is “reverse action, or release from.” I am led to believe that the key to a happy and full life is to become the opposite of all of the bad aspects of adulthood, or to “reverse” the “adult” side of ourselves. Young children don’t have any of that adult side in them, which is why they are unadulterated (simple, pure, and not diluted with extraneous matter).

So I have a new favorite word.

And a new goal as well: To become as unadulterated as possible.

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The second Kim & Jason Escape Event was held this past Sunday and all Club K&J members were invited to participate. The challenge was “Do Re Me – do something childlike today that is music related in some way, shape, or form.”

Kim and I decided to mix music with food. Here’s what we came up with:

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This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #18: Prison Break: Get out of your element. Go somewhere you’ve never been before.

Last week we were in Atlanta for a speaking program. After the event the host asked us where we were heading for dinner. We excitedly shared that we were going to get some traditional southern cooking at the infamous famous Mary Mac’s Tea Room. Known for their southern fried chicken and pot likker with cracklin’ bread, we knew we’d get a real taste of the south. The host and her colleague sheepishly admitted that even though they have lived in Atlanta for years, neither of them had ever been there to eat before. Isn’t that true for many of us?

Is it possible that I am so busy doing that I no longer have time to enjoy being? -Wilson

Sometimes it takes going on a vacation for us to try new experiences and new foods. And yet, there is plenty to check out right in your own backyard.

Let us know what you explore this week. Leave us a comment on the Escape Plan Blog to share what you did to break out of your element.

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In this episode, brought to you from studio 315 in Madison, Wisconsin, we interview Bob from Sesame Street. We ask him about how he became one of the original cast members and what it was like working with Bird Bird and Oscar the Grouch. We also talk about the effects of stress on children, an awesome retro tote bag, and dressing up like characters from the Wizard of Oz. Just click “Play” to listen to the show, or you can subscribe to the show in iTunes…

Show Notes…

• Learn more about Bob and buy his music and books at BobMcGrath.com.

• Get the full history of Sesame Street over at Wikipedia.

• News: A million children ‘mentally ill’ through stress (Telegraph)

• Join Club K&J so you can take advantage of all the benefits of membership, including quarterly issues of Kim & Jason magazine.

• Check out our cool thing this month, the Audio Cassette Bag.

Win Stuff: Jillian Gaudio won last month’s promotion. You can win a $20 gift certificate to the Lemonade Stand by letting us know, “Who is your favorite Sesame Street character and why?” E-mail us or leave us a message at 608-554-0803.

Show Music: Coyote Sleeps by Ethan Elkind

Show Length: 54 minutes, 12 seconds

Shout Outs: Thanks to Bob McGrath for the interview and Joanna and Chris for the feedback!

Feedback: We’d love to hear your thoughts! Add a comment below, e-mail us, or give us a jingle at 608-554-0803.

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Every Thursday, we pick out one of the cool things from the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand and give it away. Yep, for free.

This week’s prize is the Turner Spatula. Turner the spatula rushes to the rescue, scooping up eggs, steak, fried potatoes, and anything else that sizzles in the saucepan. Add a little childlike whimsy to your kitchen!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Just leave a comment on this post, answering this week’s question: “What is something fun you used to do in the kitchen as a kid?”
2. Deadline for entries is 11:59 pm CST on the day of the post. We’ll pick a winner from the list of comments on the following Friday.
3. We’ll contact the winner by e-mail to find out where to send the prize.

Good luck! And don’t miss any of the other cool stuff for the young at heart at The Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand!

**UPDATE: This week’s winner was Melynda:

When we were quite young, my younger brother and sister and I used to get up early, sneak into the kitchen, and get into the sugar bowl.
We would wet our faces, make a sugar beard and mustache and pretend we were Santa Clause. We actually never got caught - not that I can remember, at least.

Even though this week’s contest is over, you can still buy your very own Turner Spatula at the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand. And stay tuned next week for the next chance to win!

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How’s your job? A thrilling and exhilarating adventure, or little more than an increasingly boring way to bring home the bacon?

Passion Catalyst Curt Rosengren is an awesome chap and a generous contributor to our latest issue of Kim & Jason magazine (on its way to Club K&J members as we speak…or as I write?) I have been reading his book, 101 Ways to Get Wild About Work, in small bites on airplanes as Kim and I have criss-crossed the country flying to speaking engagements. There are so many self-help books out there that it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between them, but Curt’s really stands out.

One of the great things about children is that they see things with new eyes. Little things delight and astound them, sometimes only because they’ve never seen them before. As grown-ups we become jaded by the “same old, same old” and miss out on wonderful treasures that are right under our noses. If you are a veteran of motivational and self-help books, you’ll definitely want to check this book out. Curt did a great job of putting a fresh twist on age-old advice that made it new again, which invites the reader to see things with new eyes.

And if you’re more of a rookie when it comes to books like these, but you’re feeling stuck in a rut and yearn for a more exciting career and adventurous life, you’ll also want to give it a read. Impressively, Curt has been able to create something that is bite-sized but filling. Each chapter is only two or three pages long, but is packed with practical, real-world advice — and peppered with fun, too.

One of my favorite tips is #21: Jettison “Should” and Do What Feels Right. Here’s an excerpt:

Of the hundreds of thousands of words in the English language, the one that does the most to keep people from their dreams is “should.” In six short letters it convinces them to let their own needs and desires take a backseat to an external picture of what the world is supposed to look like. “I should be ‘successful’ (as defined by the dominant culture).” Or, “I should be responsible, or realistic, or focused on other people’s needs before my own, or…”

Often, those shoulds are so deeply ingrained that we aren’t even aware that we’re seeing the world through a should-created lens. We end up trapped in a false reality without ever realizing that alternative views exist.

The first step to getting beyond the shoulds is noticing that they exist to begin with. Here’s an idea to help you discover yours. Take a piece of paper and at the top of it put, “I should…” Then look at your ideas about your career. What “should” you do? Run a little mind-movie through your head about pursuing your passion. Does that kick up any shoulds? Does it run counter to the way you’re “supposed” to be? How about as it relates to family, or your role in society?

How about life in general? What “should” you do? How “should” you be?

The first step to overcoming shoulds is simply being aware of them. After you make the initial list, keep the piece of paper somewhere handy and keep adding to it as more shoulds occur to you over the coming week.

Once you have your list of shoulds, start exploring them. For each one, ask yourself, “Is this valid? Is this accurate? Where did this come from?” Some of them will be perfectly valid, and many will not. Some of them will be in alignment with what feels good and sustaining for you. Others may be completely out of whack.

In order to make decisions that are based on what is right for you, and not what you “should” do, you have to recognize where what is right for you and what you “should” do are at odds.

How often do you let the “shoulds” dictate how you spend your time?

With the inquisitiveness of a four-year-old, start questioning everything.

Start questioning the shoulds.

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This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #19: Future Forecast: Spend 10 minutes visioning yourself 10 years from now as having accomplished one of your biggest dreams. Be as detailed as possible; imagine in all five senses.

Every time Jason and I end up at a mall he makes a joke about the “Ice Cream of the Future”… you know, Dippin’ Dots. This frozen treat company has been claiming this title for over 20 years.

When is the future, anyway?

And speaking of the future, when is our transportation system going to mirror that of The Jetsons? Speaking around the country would be so much easier if we could just fly from one place to the next in our own vehicles, or better yet- teleportation. Beam me up, Scotty!

All joking aside, in order to see real change in your reality you have to know what you’re going after. You have to have a vision. Otherwise, you end up drifting from one year to the next.

One of the questions in the Adultitis intake is as follows:

This is what I think about following dreams…

A. I do have dreams, but I try to keep them realistic.
B. My dreams are so big, I think most people think I’m mental.
C. Three words: Get. A. Job. People should spend more time with their feet on the ground than heads in the clouds.
D. I don’t really have time for my dreams.

What would your answer be? I know most kids would answer letter B. If you don’t believe me, just look at their Christmas lists. It’s time to start spending time visioning your dreams coming true. Engage the senses… and most importantly- have fun with it!

So, let me get you started. The date is April 21, 2018. Will you be flying to the nearest ice cream shop to eat frozen dots of wonderfulness?

Share with us in the comments of the Escape Plan Blog what you’ll be doing ten years from today.

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Consider another one of those age-old problems solved.

That’s what we do here.

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Every Thursday, we pick out one of the cool things from the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand and give it away. Yep, for free.

This week’s prize is Cozy Crochet. Cozy Crochet features 26 step-by-step projects that will appeal to the sophisticated tastes of the new generation of crocheters. Ranging from simple projects for new converts to more advanced patterns for seasoned crafters, the creations in Cozy Crochet are fresh and contemporary: stylish striped throw pillows, an embellished clutch purse, a delicate wrap for a night on the town. A comprehensive learn-to-crochet section teaches the basics in plain language with 65 helpful diagrams, and each project is illustrated with a beautiful full-color photograph. Appealing, accessible, and utterly original, the designs in Cozy Crochet will have readers hooked. By Melissa Leapman

Here’s how to enter:

1. Just leave a comment on this post, answering this week’s question: “When you were a child, did you have a handmade blanket or special friend? Tell us about it.”
2. Deadline for entries is 11:59 pm CST on the day of the post. We’ll pick a winner from the list of comments on the following Friday.
3. We’ll contact the winner by e-mail to find out where to send the prize.

Good luck! And don’t miss any of the other cool stuff for the young at heart at The Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand!

**UPDATE: This week’s winner was Julie:

I had two best friends as a child: a small, multi-colored blanket named Blanky, and a stuffed wolf named wolfy. One day, some lady came to our house and sat on Wolfy and Blanky. The whole night, I kept thinking about ways to save Blanky and Wolfy. (I knew they were suffocating under the lady) After the lady left, I remember grabbing Blanky and Wolfy and they stunk. My parents told me the lady, who was carrying a baby, must have had dirty diapers that got my items dirty. They threw Blanky away, and threw Wolfy in the washer. Wolfy became all nappy, but I still have him to this day.

Even though this week’s contest is over, you can still buy your very own Cozy Crochet at the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand. And stay tuned next week for the next chance to win!

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Akemi writes a blog about life purpose, passion, and entrepreneurship. She recently posted an interview she conducted with me and Kim about our journey as entrepreneurs. Here’s a taste:

What were the three biggest challenges when you were starting off as a new entrepreneur?

Kim:
1. Funding. Jason and I were straight out of college with empty pockets and big dreams. There were a lot of upfront expenses, but not a lot of income at the beginning. We grew slow and steady, though, which enabled us to stay afloat.
2. Patience. We had grand visions, but weren’t exactly sure which steps to take to get there. It took a lot of trial an error- about five years worth. During that time there were many soul searching moments that inevitably shaped us into the company we are today.

Jason:
I’d also add self-doubt. Like many young entrepreneurs, we were very excited about what we were doing and had some big dreams to go with it, but when it comes to actually implementing your idea in the world, it’s easy to start second-guessing yourself. “Am I crazy?” seemed to be a recurring question that popped up in my head. I don’t think any of us have a good handle on what we are truly capable of and we typically sell ourselves a bit short.

Read the full interview here.

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The first Kim & Jason Escape Event was such a hit, we’re doing it again. But this time, we’re adding even more secrecy. Official top secret details have been transmitted to all current Club K&J members via the U.S. Postal Service. Check your mailbox and join us in the fun!

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